Types of Motorcycle Accidents

When you are injured in a motorcycle crash, it is important to determine the cause of the accident. A Florida motorcycle accident attorney can help by conducting a thorough investigation of your case.

At Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, we analyze a variety of sources to determine the type of motorcycle accident that occurred in a client’s case. This includes the examination of police reports, accident scene photos, cell phone data and other records. We also consult with accident reconstruction experts and others.

Once it is determined how your crash occurred, you can move on to the next step of seeking compensation from those who caused you to suffer injuries and losses.

To learn how we can help you, including our approach to investigating different types of motorcycle crashes in South Florida and the Treasure Coast, call us today at 1-800-299-8878 or reach us through our online form. Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, offers free initial consultations.

Most Common Types of Motorcycle Crashes

Florida law allows injured victims to file a personal injury action for accidents that result in serious injuries or a wrongful death claim for accidents that cause death.

This means that when a driver makes a mistake that causes a motorcycle accident, he or she can be held responsible for paying damages that include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and/or wrongful death damages.

To obtain compensation for these damages, however, a motorcycle rider must show what the root cause of the crash was.

Based on our experience, Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, sees the following as the most common causes of motorcycle accidents:

• Speeding – According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 34 percent of motorcyclists in fatal wrecks in 2020 were speeding. About 22 percent of passenger car drivers that collided with motorcycles were also exceeding the speed limit.
• Driving while distracted – In Florida alone, more than 16,000 people were injured and 344 were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2021. A driver on his or her cell phone is far more likely to hit a motorcycle rider than someone focused on the task of driving.
• Driving under the influence – Among the drivers involved in motorcycle crashes nationwide in 2021, the NHTSA found a significant number of intoxicated motorists: 27 percent of motorcycle riders, 23 percent of car drivers, 19 percent of light-truck drivers, and 3 percent of large-truck drivers.
• Driving while fatigued – When a driver is overtired, he may be just as impaired as a driver who is drunk. A recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study indicated that 1 in every 25 drivers throughout the US had fallen asleep at the wheel within the month prior to being surveyed. A dozing driver may miss a motorcyclist entirely.
• Failing to yield – A five-year analysis by the NHTSA found that 35 percent of car drivers that collided with motorcycles did not yield to the motorcycle’s right of way.
• Road defects – The US Department of Transportation has identified roadway factors such as changes in elevation, lack of markings, blind spots, and presence of debris as an increased risk for motorcyclists. In Florida, 13 percent of roads are in poor condition, costing every motorist about $425 each year in driving expenses.
• Motorcycle defects – Vehicle defects are described as a rare cause of motorcycle crashes. In most cases, when a vehicle defect causes a problem, it was caused by improper or insufficient maintenance.

While drivers of passenger vehicles may be at fault for not acting with reasonable care to protect motorcyclists, motorcycle riders may also make mistakes. In fact, a study conducted by Monash University indicated that the motorcyclist contributed to causing around two-thirds of all multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents. Typically, the motorcyclist’s mistakes or negligence involved the failure to respond or inappropriate positioning.

Even when a motorcyclist bears some responsibility, however, he or she is not necessarily disqualified from making a damage claim. A negligent motorcyclist may still recover partial compensation for losses under Florida’s comparative negligence rules.

Get Legal Help from a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Determining the type of motorcycle accident you were involved in is just one important step in understanding your legal rights and in obtaining monetary compensation for your injuries from those who were responsible for hurting you.

An experienced Florida motorcycle accident lawyer at Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, can assist you in determining who is to blame for your accident, gathering evidence to prove your case and seeking the maximum amount of compensation by going to court or negotiating a settlement.

To learn more about how we can help after your motorcycle accident, give us a call at 1-800-299-8878 or schedule a free consultation by using our online contact form. We work with clients throughout South Florida and have offices in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach.

Sources:

• Traffic Safety Facts: Motorcycles – 2020 Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Florida Traffic Crash Facts 2021, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• Fatal Two-Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Motorcycles, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• Case-control study of motorcycle crashes, Monash Injury Research Institute
• Drowsy Driving: Asleep at the Wheel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention